Fountain inkwell



June 12, 1923. 1,458,863

J. K. ULLMAN FOUNTAIN INKWELL Filed June 15, 1921 Gm a Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,458,863 A: E OE i Ea JAooB K. ULLMAN, or NEW HA vEiv; ooivivnorrcu'r.

FOUNTAIN INKWELL.

Application filed June '15, 1921. 1 Serial No. 477,754."

which the bulk of the charge or contents thereof is protected from exposure to dust and evaporation while an eflicient feeding of the same to the dip orifices is afforded to provide a constant supply of the ink within reach of the pen introduced into the'dip opening, the feeding of the ink from the main reservoir or source of supply beingeffected automatically through the operation of a float in the dispensing compartment with which the dip opening communicates; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a general view of an ink well constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the same.

The device consists essentially of a base 10 constituting a dispensing chamber with which communicates a vertical tube 11 constituting a dip socket or opening for the reception of a penpoint to be charged with ink, and surmounting the base which is provided with a suitable cover plate 12 is a tank or reservoir 13 for the bulk or main supply or source of ink for the dispensing chamber, said tank or reservoir having a cap or cover 14 for excluding dust and minimizing the tendency to evaporation of the liquid contents of the receptacle but removable to permit of filling or reservoir being provlded in its bottom 15 with a feed opening 16 controlled by a vertically movable valve 17. This valve is mounted in suitable guide openings in a cage or frame 18 and consists of a stem tapered at its upper end to form a conical valve element designed to be seated upwardly in the feed opening 16 with which communicates a funnel 19 serving to conduct the ink to the feed opening while preventing sediment in the bottom of the tank or reservoir from entering and clogging the same.

the same, the tank Arranged inthe dispensing-chamber is a float 20: consisting in the construction illustrated of a hollow metallic drum having a central guide tub 21'fitted upon a guide rod 22 whereby the, float is held centered in the chamber and supports the valve'l'? by contact of the center of its top with the lower extremity ofsaid valve, the top of' the float preferably being coned as shown'at 23 to cause lnk deposited thereon from the feed opening to'fiow into-thespace 24 between the sides and bottom of the floatand the corresponding wallsof the dispensing chamber for access through a suitable passage '25 to the dip socket where itis'eccessible to the penpoint. In the bottom of the dip socket there is preferably arranged a soft pad26 of felt or like materialwto provide against injury of the penpoint in the dipping thereof-and a cap :27:hav ing a tubular portion-'28 may be; threaded in the pen socket to. vary the depth to which the penpoint may be inserted. v

As a means of insuring the droppingor downward opening of the the valve when the float recedes or sinks by reason of the lowering of the level of the liquid in the dispens-, ing chamber, and also as a means of cleans ing the feed opening and removing any sediment or accumulation of dried ink which may lodge or form therein there is employed or handle 31 adapted to be grasped or depressed by the operator to unseat the valve.

The trip rod is preferably of a diameter ap- Y proximating the feed opening and is provided with spiral grooves 32 serving to clean the feed opening and permit the ink to flow from the tank or reservoir through the feed opening while the rod is extended therethrough.

Under ordinary conditions as will be ob vious the valve will be seated to prevent further discharge of ink from the tank or reservoir into the dispensing chamber when the float is elevated by the contents of the said chamber to an extent suflicient to provide the necessary supply for the dip socket,

and as the ink is used and the float recedes it will permit the opening of the valve to admit of a flow of ink from the tank or reservoir to the dispensing chamber,--this operation being repeated until the contents of the tank have become exhausted. Should there be any lack of freedom in the feeding of the ink from the tank or reservoir to the dispensing chamber it is only necessary for the operator to suitably manipulate the trip rod in order to relieve the feed opening of any obstruction therein. K

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. An ink well having a dispensing chamher with a communicating dip socket accessible by a penpoint,a closed tank or reservoir in communication with the dispensing chamber, a float actuated valve controlling the point of communication between the tank and the dispensing chamber, and a trip or cleaning rod having one extremity arranged at the point of communication between the tank and the dispensing chamber and in engagement with the valve for unseating the latter and opening up the passage constituting the point of communication, the remaining extremity of the trip being exteriorly exposed for accessby the operator.

2. An ink well having a base forming a dispensing chamber with which communicates a dip socket accessible by a penpoint, av closed tank or reservoir arranged in surmounting relation to the base and provided with a bottom feed opening for supplying ink to the dispensing chamber, a valve for controlling the feed opening, and a float arranged in the dispensing chamber for supporting and normally retaining the valve in its seated position, a trip or cleaning rod being arranged at its lower end in said feed opening and having its exposed upper end provided with a weighted knob or handle.

3. An ink well having a base forming a dispensing chamber with which communicates a dip socket accessible by a penpoint, a closed tank or reservoir arranged in surmounting relation to the base and provided with abottom feed opening for supplying ink tothe dispensing chamber, a valve for controlling the feed opening, and a float arranged in the dispensing chamber for supporting and normally retaining the valve in its seated position, a trip or cleaning rod being arranged at its lower end in said feed opening in bearing contact with the valve and projecting at its upper end beyond the top of the tank or reservoir for access by the operator.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

JACOB K. ULLMAN. 

